Track joint lubrication



Jan. 25, 1949. F. w. BROOKE TRACK JOINT LUBRICAQTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1947 INVENTOR.

FRANK W. BROOKE.

1949. F. w. BROOKE TRACK JOINT LUBRICATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, '1947 INVENTOR. FRANK W. BROOKE.

HTTOP/VEY.

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 25459996? ritiioii Jot-s1 LUiiitfoiiiuoh I tim stake, Pitts'l'iiirghf l a: Application November 19, masseusenew 'Thisinvention is an'improvem'ent infraili-joifits ofthe standard type or class in con'i'iiioniisl on ranroads; It has in View to provide 'th' H n'ti within the lengthwise and vertical defined by the extent of the usual ran-conne t ng fish plates, with means for lubricating otherwise ag posed surfaces, of the rails, the fish plates, and bolts, for prevention of corrosion. L Also to provide for vertical or-lateral-fl W disposal of any water or moisture finding its-waybetween the ends of the: rails themselves.

' As: is .well known, centers of moisture may teen and rapidly progress the corrosion of ste pest tend to increase more rapidly in locations of stresses. Also, that the combination' o f and corrosion may and do causefractures in,

such steel members as rail ends, under the usual service strains. I e As is well known also, rail joint service is very severe, subject to all weather conditions, and the usual up and down movement of the rail ends, even when connected by the tie plates or fish bars.

at all times tightly butted together undefr varyi mg extreme temperatures, of say from 1 0 5f E; to -i0 F. below zero. Hence, it is not unusualto provide or allow for transverse spacing ori '1 to 1%", more or less, and thus open to entrance of moisture, rain, or melted snow or ice; 7 e To meet such conditions, my invention pro ides for proper placement of lubricant containing sections or packing units of compressible or resilient and moisture-reg'nellant character, to permit slight relative movement between the rail end portions and the fish plates. v Such means are susceptible of such relative movement, without effecting efiiciency of the'joiiifias awhole. In order to retain such unitary lubricating members or packing units in proper positions,

theyare not only held by the usual transverse bolts of the joint, but are also resisted against endwise movement by means of retaining blocks or bodies located beyond the outer ends-of the libricatin members and between the ends ofthe fish plates and rail web, and also across-j the transverse gap or space between the rail ends, and acting as movement preventing dams.

Heretoiore, various more or less similar means have been provided to efiect track joint lubrication, but all such are of'limited efiiciency in preventing leakage and resulting corrosion of the several metal surfaces of the entire joint. At times such corrosion may result in failure and resulting wrecks and damage.

The rail ends, for practical reasons, cannoii At feac g;.' 5 'is a cross section on the liheV-V of Fi 1. lifig; 6 isa detail view of one of the retaining rods pr wires g 7 is an -isometric end new of one fon'ii bf of; iterent form:

ti'onal standard construction; and illustrate V min: a a pr ded h th lsl a lfp fiadii en r l Web nmateers: 154 su r e 1 1 2 n see dto th 51 1 a ed aft i -mem ie s o h il ti i raf ii hornet? -n p es fia iaqen ne dte enef itesred m-1 qustemary fish relat s) n; u t n n ement w thheme rmrpfl n ea 4, and each provided on their inner sides ra -hollowed out cavity, allof standard construction. f

The fish-p t nd w -.ar o iiie pwi ii. suitable holes for passage of the clamping bolts l havin'g-the usual tightening and loosening nuts, s i daw I I showsas *in; Figs. l-- and 2,1 the comparatively; narrow; transverse space 'or clearance ';8; usually extendingbetween therails from top to bottomgi' through which space water from above znay freely-flow ;by -gravity,- for dischargeupon the roadbedbelow. I p p fAs shown in; Flies-: 1 and 4, thespacehetweew the rail web 3 and each outer fish'plate 6 51s occupied byitwo p airsof spaced apart lubricating pad units-T Ahaalso endmost lubricant-:retaining' and sealing;snon lubricating" units 3,; B, and micldle non'tlubricating intervening-sewing units?" C, The latter, units C, like units B, B, are of a suitable somewhat pliable material and initial shape, to practically occupy and fit within the cavity at each side between the web 3 and each fish plate 6.

Each unit C, in addition to providing an abutting limiting bearing for the inner ends of lubricating units Apalso closes eifectually and seals both lateral portions of any vertical spaces Units B and C are made of any suitable non rigid material having sufiicient pliability or resiliency subject to compression and deformation, for conformation with and closing entrance into such or any minute cavities or clearances. Such material may be sufiiciently soft .wood, wood pulp, or the like, without lubricant impregnation, and capable under pressure, of filling the cavities between the rail and the fish plates.

As indicated in dotted lines, as at b, the terminal units B, when first inserted, project slightly beyond the fish plates, and are finally driven in to final position as shown, and wired.

The units B thus act as plungers, and retaining dams, and force the lubricant A into all open spaces covered by the lubricatingunit's.

Also, as indicated at 9, the pressure on unit C, effects closing of the space along each side of the minute space 8, in the manner of projecting ridges 9, as shown, thus sealing against passag or moisture.

The main source of lubrication is furnished by units-A, which may be of any suitable lubricant as a heavy oil or grease, and an impregnating or holding body, for instance saw dust, woodpulp, etc., of a cartridge forming shape suitable for placement in position between the fish plates and the rail end portions.

Such construction may be made by means corrugated paper 19, or the like, suitably, periorated, and filled or invested with the lubricating medium.

- I show in Fig. '7 such a roll ready for placement, which when subjected to pressure, is compressed to the final confined form, indicated in dotted lines. Otherwise, the same result may be secured by combining a series of corrugated or otherwise deformed packet or cell-providing deformed layers, for investing therewith of the lubricating medium, in the form of a slab, as in Fig. 8.

With either such lubricant carriers, or their equivalent,'when the units A, 'B, and C are in proper location as assembled, followed by the fish plates, and the bolts and nuts are applied, the enclosed units are forced into proper positions, and then compressed by the bolts, to final tightness. Y

The result is to squeeze and force the lubricant into every corner and crevice, thus effectually closing off any access of moisture to exposed metal surfaces.

'For'the purpose of retaining the several units of the entire assembly in proper operative rela tion, each is provided with a small clearance groove 'II for insertion longitudinally of a continuous'wire l2 at each side, finally turned over at the ends.

Inassembling the joint, the outer retaining members B are shown as protrudingbeyond the to their final tightness, ready for operation of the track.

Thereupon, the already inserted wires 12 are turned over as at l3, firmly retaining the units B against outward movement.

I claim:

1. The combination with a conventional railway track joint wherein adjacent rail end portions are embraced at each side beyond their end junction zone by connecting fish plates, midway sealing units extending across said junction zone at each Opposite side between the rail end portions and the fish plates, endmost sealing units between the terminal ends of the fish plates and the rails, and lubricating pads between the midway sealing units and the endmost sealing units.

2.. The combination with a conventional railway track joint wherein adjacent rail end portions are embraced at each side beyond their end junction zone by connecting fish plates, midway sealing units extending across said junction zone at each opposite side between the rail end portionsv and the fish plates, endmost sealing units between the terminal ends of the fish plates and the, rails, lubricating pads between the midway sealing units and the endmost sealing units, and means'connecting the fish plates and rails V exerting pressure on the lubricating pads.

way track joint wherein adjacent rail'end portions are embraced at each side beyond their end junction zone and an intervening open joint space byconnecting fish plates, midway sealing units extending across such space at each opposite side between the rail end portions and the fish plates, endmost sealing units between the terminalends of the fish plates and the rails, lubricating pads: between the midway sealing units and'the endmost sealing units, and means connecting the fish plates and rails exerting pressure on the lubricating pads.

r FRANK W. BROOKE.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 888,125 .Shedlock May 19, 1908 1,630,584 Schneider May 31, 1927, 2,218,315 7 Jones Oct. 15, 1940 2,264,259 7 Shoemaker Nov. 25, 1941 2,320,706 Ripley et a1 June 1, 1943 2,337,769 McWilliams Dec. 28, 1943 

